Watching others.

When I'm rolling down the road, I always seem to watch other skateboarders, on the highway...Especially, when they are hauling stuff, I never hauled before...Always looking at their load and see how they have it secured...It may come in handy one day, when I go pick something up, and remember how that driver had it tied or chained down.

[Big_Dave]

I always look to. Most times it's out of curiosity, but there have been times that I've seen a strap or chain that's worked loose. If I see that, I'll inform the driver so he / she can correct the problem.

I've never been cussed out for that so far. I guess that they'd rather take a minute and fix it as opposed to sitting there explaining why it wasn't secured right while digging deeper into their wallet to pay the fine.

I always appreciate a heads up on something that might be wrong..
Lot of times its hard to see back there to know whats going on..
Especially when tarps are involved..

I appreciate guys like you that say something...unfortounatly some guys take it as an insult, that you dont know what you're doing or something, and will quickly throw a finger your way. :vmad:

That makes it hard for the rest of us that appreciate the info..

[Foxfire]

The ones that get upset when someone tells them about a securement or tarp problem are, in my book, not real drivers.
Someone said in here somewhere that flatbedders have a family-like atmosphere. I believe that whole heartedly.

[CD]

The ones that cop an attitude when you try to tell them about something that might be wrong,usually have much deeper issues than just a loose chain or strap(loose screw maybe??)

I always appreciate when things are pointed out that I might have missed or worked itself loose :)

[LadyBones]

i agree with Foxfire, When hubby and i seen someone with straps loose or tarps coming undone or even lumber walking, we tell them and 9 out of 10 drivers will say thanks and pull over when they can. We always appreciated when someone let us know if something was wrong with our loads.

[The_Governor]

I always have appreciated anyone informing me of loose straps,chains ,etc.

I haul lumber for BMC West to residential builders in the D/FW area and fortunately I carry a Princeton Piggy Back forklift on the back of my trailer.

In a worst case scenario I can always unload and re-load if necessary.I also carry a partial roll of banding material and a bander just in case.

[LindaLou]

I am very grateful for all of the help that I have gotten along the way. Fortunately I haven't had a strap or tarp come loose going down the road but if I did I'd feel bad if no one said anything! I like the tarp jobs that look like Christmas so neat, but now I know that depends what's under there. I have had some loads that look like I am hauling space aliens under there and tricky to walk across. Multiple size bunks of lumber put together like a chinese puzzle, sort of....

I have learned alot these past months and I owe it all to helpful flatbedders that have the time to help out a newbie. I also cruse truckstops and rest areas and look and admire other's work.

I am looking forward to my first square lumber load for now....tomorrow it's guard rails.

[Foxfire]

Lol LindaLou, I hate to break this too ya, but if they loaded it square it would be too heavy or not heavy enuff to pay them to haul it.....lol. Lumber just won't square up. Sheetrock will and so will paneling or plywood. Glad you are learning. The day you stop, get out of the truck and head on down to Mickey D's and flip hamburgers....lol WTG gf!

[LindaLou]

I guess that I have come close to square....on the ends with pyramids in the middle. The problem is the extra slack in the tarp over the pyramids. I have a sealed rubrail now and have to use stake pockets or hooks just below the rail, but a few of them are missing....anyhoo, I am getting better at it, can actually finish in a little over an hour if I work wide open.

Frustration! A load of mostly bagged mortar with one pallet of boxes stacked too high to use my top tarp. Waa! Way overlapped lumber tarps on that one with the top row of rings on the rubrail on both sides except for that odd sized pallet.

As for food service, I have been working for 32 years of my life and tried it for 3 weeks. It didn't suit me. I started driving for a living @ 21.....just not the big truck. Another goofy girl taxidriver. (What, you talkin to me?)My only regret for my current chosen profession is that I didn't start sooner! :p